Natural Disasters Archives - Consumers' Federation of Australia

3 September , 2024

Fire Protection Month

Fire Protection Month serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and the ongoing efforts to prevent tragedies from occurring in our communities. The impact of fire on individuals, communities and the environment are devastating. The Western Australian Department of Fire & Emergency Services has information about preventing a fire in the…

18 July , 2024

Design to Disrupt and Weathering the Storm Awarded the 2024 Consumer Advocacy Award

At the 2024 ACCC National Consumer Congress, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) was proud to present our Consumer Advocacy Award for the best consumer advocacy campaign or project of the past year. The nominees this year were all strong contenders: 1. Fair Call, direct regulation for telcos – formed from a coalition of consumer advocates…

3 June , 2024

Insurance Affordability and Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Taskforce

The Albanese Government is establishing the Insurance Affordability and Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Taskforce as part of the federal budget to develop an integrated, cross?government approach to minimising the impacts of disaster on the community and help address insurance costs driven by more frequent and intense weather events. The government is committed to working with insurers and…

15 April , 2024

The 2024 Ruby Hutchison Memorial Lecture – 50 Years of Consumer Advocacy

This year’s Ruby Hutchison Memorial lecture shone a light on just how much the consumer protection movement together with regulators has achieved in the last 50 years, and the complex consumer issues we’re still seeking answers to today. Bringing in a musical theme and recognising the rockstar influence of the speakers, the ACCC Deputy Chair…

2 April , 2024

ACCAN’s Quick Guide for Consumers to the new Financial Hardship Standard

The telecommunications regulator, the ACMA, has developed a new regulation called the Telecommunications (Financial Hardship) Industry Standard (the FH standard). The FH Standard will commence on March 29, and compliance is mandatory.

31 January , 2024

Consumer Advocates Call on Insurers to Act Now at Flood Insurance Inquiry

Consumer advocates call on insurers to act now at flood insurance inquiry

Urgent changes needed to improve claims handling process

A number of consumer advocacy groups – including CHOICE, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Consumer Action Law Centre, and Financial Counselling Australia – will be the first to appear today and tomorrow at a public hearing for the parliamentary inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.

11 December , 2023

Insurance Monitoring Report 2023 Released

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released its Insurance Monitoring Report for 2023, the reports second annual release. The reports key focus was on insurance for homes, strata and small business in the Northern Territory and the effect, reception and role of the government’s new cyclone reinsurance pool. Due to the differences in…

14 November , 2023

Independent Review of the 2020 General Insurance Code of Practice

Original media release by the Insurance Council of Australia (14/11/2023). An Independent Review of the 2020 General Insurance Code of Practice will be undertaken by an eminent three-person panel with backgrounds in consumer advocacy, financial regulation and the insurance industry, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) announced today. The Code sets out the minimum standards…

24 October , 2023

ACCC: Regulatory Regime for Mobile Tower Access “no longer fit for purpose”

The report outlines consistent concerns about patchy coverage, difficulties interpreting and comparing coverage maps, as well as concerns that already congested networks will get worse as demand for data continues to grow.

12 October , 2023

Consumer Affairs Victoria Releases New Strategic Plan and Regulatory Priorities

The Consumer Affairs Victoria Strategic Plan for 2023-26, and regulatory priorities for 2023-24 have been published this week.

22 September , 2023

Preparing for a Bushfire Insurance Claim

“Natural disasters can be one of the most complex issues to navigate when it comes to insurance,” says CHOICE insurance expert Jodi Bird.

“There are some simple things you can do right now to make things easier should you become affected by a bushfire and need to make a claim.”

4 August , 2023

Presentation Date, Terms of Reference Announced for Flood Insurance Inquiry

Last week the Australian Government announced its intention to form a Senate Inquiry into insurer response to the 2022 floods. This week, according to a media release from Minister for Financial Services and Assistant Treasurer the Hon. Stephen Jones MP, will be presenting the motion for its consumer-focused Inquiry to the house this Monday, August 7th.